There’s a lot of build-up to the birth of your baby, for good reason. Birth is one of the most powerful rites of passage you will experience in your life. At term you will be in regular contact with your midwife to ensure you feel prepared and know what to expect. It’s important to do everything you can to prepare for how you want it to go, and be ready for the birth story to take on a life of its own, as your baby shows you what birth is all about.

Your birth will be attended by one of the 6 care providers in our shared care group if you are choosing a hospital birth. We work as a skilled, knowledgeable and respectful team who shares call and treats each family with compassion. We have wonderful working relationships with all other professions at the hospital who might be involved in your birth as well, should the situation require. If you are electing a home birth, your birth will be attended by one of the midwife and a second attendant, either the other midwife or one of our RNs who are licensed to attend births at home.

During the days that follow, your heart will burst open in ways that you have never fathomed. At the same time, your physical body will be recovering from a birth and you will be learning how to feed your baby, whichever way you choose to do it. You will have daily visits in the hospital and your midwife will see you at home regularly throughout the first week and then on a more tapered schedule as your recover and adapt more to caring for your baby. All clinical checks will be done at home and any necessary consultations or assessments by other health care providers will be arranged should they be needed. The Public Health Nurses will also offer you visits which can also be a source of valuable information.

We are always assessing your mental well-being in the postpartum period, as depression can arise even in women who are not at risk. Sleep deprivation can have a profound impact on your state, as can adjusting to a new baby, new family routines, the constant demand of feeding a baby, and the different hormone fluctuations that happen in your body. Talk to your midwife immediately if you feel like you are unusually sad, numb or just not feeling like yourself. A list of available counsellors and mental health resources on the Sunshine Coast can be provided, as can more urgent mental health assessments.

At your 6 week visit, your midwife will wrap up your care and send your birth records to your family doctor (you are welcome to have a copy of your birth records as well). We review contraception options, healthy spacing between pregnancies, and possibly ongoing support from different allied health care providers such as Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists, Acupuncturists, RMTs, or anyone else who can help with your long-term wellness. We recommend booking a visit with your doctor when your baby is 2 months old for an intake visit.